(~s, paring, ~d)
1.
When you ~ something, or ~ part of it off or away, you cut off its skin or its outer layer.
Pare the brown skin from the meat with a very sharp knife...
He took out a slab of cheese, ~d off a slice and ate it hastily.
...thinly ~d lemon rind.
VERB: V n from n, V n with adv, V-ed
see also paring
2.
If you ~ something down or back, or if you ~ it, you reduce it.
The number of Ministries has been ~d down by a third...
The luxury tax won’t really do much to ~ down the budget deficit...
Local authorities must ~ their budgets.
VERB: be V-ed adv, V n with adv, V n